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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-02-15 Celebration Trust Committee MinutesMinutes of the Eighth Meeting of Reading's 350th Anniversary Celebration Steering Committee February 15, 1990, Thursday Board Room Reading Public Library Committee Members Attending: Edward Palmer, Everett Blodgett, Shirley Buzderewicz, Alan Foulds, Susan Horn, Paul Sweeney and Susan Wheltle. (Susan Flannery and Susan Theophanis were unable to attend.) Also Attending: From Sturbridge's 250th: Richard LaFranchise, Former Parade Chairman Robert Briere, Former Chairman Dr. Roland Blanchard, Bagpipe group Rev. Harold Garbarino, Reading Clergy Association Charlie Peacock, Reading Minutemen John Shaw, President, Lions Club Charlie Kellgf Secretary, Lions Club Lenny Polonski, Chamber of Commerce Chief Leonard Redfern, Reading Fire Dept. Chief Edward Marchand, Reading Police Dept. Invited but unable to attend were: Russell Graham (Selectmen) Rose Hines (PTO Council) Judge John T. Sweeney William Tarmey (Chamber of Commerce) Discussion began at 7:42 P.M. I. DISCUSSION OF PARADE POSSIBILITIES Objective: It is the desire parade that will Anniversary. We to the town, but citizens IN the A. Date of the Steering Committee to plan for a provide significant contribution to our do NOT plan to attract thousands of visitors we WOULD like to involve many of our local parade. The original date the Steering Committee had tentatively suggested for the 350th Parade was May 22, 1994, Sunday. This date is not going to work as that is Pentacost Sunday. The Rev. Garbarino, representing the Reading Clergy Association, says that Sunday is a horrendous idea as far as they are concerned not only because Sunday is a holy day but also because a parade of the scope we are talking will involve much more than just the actual hours of the parade. Preparation for the parade will most certainly impact church Page 2 Steering Committee February 15, 1990 services. Sunday was originally suggested because it is easier for bands and other units to participate. Merchants have traditionally resisted Saturdays--especially disrupting the main thoroughfares. Further Sunday might be better traffic- wise. It was also felt that there might be more response to a parade on a Sunday. Since we cannot plan a parade Sunday, May 22, the alternative Sunday would be June 4, 1994. The high school assures us this will not conflict with high school graduation. on the other hand, Saturday might actually help the merchants. With the lifting of the Blue Laws, objections to a Saturday parade would now also apply to Sunday afternoon. We don't necessarily need a parade of the magnitude of, say, Sturbridge's. if a unit can't participate on a Saturday, then we have time to get someone else who can. Families who go away Saturday will probably be away Sunday, too. If we chose a Saturday it would probably be May 21 or June 3, due to the fact that we don't want two parades Memorial Day weekend. The gentlemen from Sturbridge said that their clergy changed the hours of the services to accommodate the parade for this once in a lifetime event. Their parade began at 10:00 AM and was 4 1/2 hours long. Memorial Day is another possibility. We had avoided this to remove conflict with the veterans. But perhaps we could work with them. Their ceremonies and speeches can still take place. We need to contact the veterans groups. It is also a lot closer to our charter date and people are already planning for a parade that day. Homecoming and reunion activities could lead up to the parade and can still be planned around whatever date is selected. This was tabled for discussion later on. The Steering Committee will have to rethink the suggested time table for the 350th celebration. B. Traffic and Safety Plans Sudbury closed the town and had everybody come in by bus. Sturbridge went to the DPW and closed the state highway (Route 20). There was tremendous cooperation. Page 3 Steering Committee February 15, 1990 Sirens: In Sturbridge no one used a siren. If there was a problem and an emergency vehicle had to get out of the parade a siren would signal the emergency. Also, too many sirens are too many. People with hearing aides have an awful time. Police: Sturbridge used Police Explorers and some State Police ...about 14-16 enforcement officers in all. We must decide on a parade route and then count the intersections before we know what our need would be. Mutual aide with surrounding towns in Sturbridge provided cruiser presence around side streets to discourage anyone looking at empty homes in town. C. Route, Formation & Disbanding.Areas It does not appear that the town has a common route. Formation areas and disbanding areas are not necessarily large. You can line up on a group of streets with feeder streets assigned to each segment of the parade. The disassembly can also filter into streets where buses were waiting. Ideal situation would be a circular route (Field House??). We have State highways and a railroad crossing to consider. (There are MBTA police living in Reading.) Paul Sweeney suggested staging area be at the High School, proceed south on Main Street, right on Salem Street passing a reviewing area in the Town Hall parking lot across from the Veterans Memorial; down Sanborn, right onto Woburn St. to Summer and disassemble at Parker Middle School. These specifics should be left to the Parade Committee. D. Basic Format of Parade A Pageant Parade: Two of Webster's Dictionary definitions for the word "Pageant" #3: An elaborate exhibition, especially a parade, often with floats for public entertainment. #4: A type of community drama based on local history, given by local actors, out-of-doors. This is what the Committee believes it would like to see, "The History of Reading" in the form of a parade. By dividing the parade into 7 divisions, each division could represent 50 years of Reading's history. Every group, float, or marching unit would represent a year, or series of years in our town's history. Examples: -churches could reserve dates according to the date of the founding of the parish. Page 4 Steering Committee February 15, 1990 -schools could portray persons or periods of time that the names of their schools represent. -clubs and organizations could represent their founding dates. -veterans groups could represent the various wars our townspeople have been involved in. -local drama groups could portray historical dates. -former RMHS students could celebrate their graduation dates in vintage vehicles from their year of graduation. E. Videotaping We would like to videotape the parade, editing and adding narration (Gary LaPierre has volunteered to do the narration) after the fact. It could become a usable teaching tool to be used in future years in the Reading Schools. F. Financing. This event will probably be the most expensive part of our anniversary celebration. Seven divisions could be named by or for a business, group, club or organization for a donation of $3,500. We might suggest that if a business, group, club or organization wished to reserve a particular date in history it would be done by a donation of $350. The Sturbridge parade cost $62,600. Sturbridge tried the idea of 50 year increments and found that it could not be done-not enough participation ...and they have Old Sturbridge Village. The fund raising committee in Sturbridge used businesses and organizations as patrons. $1000 sponsors had gold banner with their name carried by two youngsters (each cost about $125) and there were about 24 banners. Merchandising in Sturbridge brought in about $50,000: Tee Shirts, sweatshirts and more. JC Penney and Sears Roebuck were willing to carry items and give all proceeds back to the Committee taking no profit for themselves. Sturbridge's budget will be made available to the Committee. G. Live Cable TV Coverage This might be arranged for shut-ins and house sitters. H. Outside Groups We may want to see what Wakefield and North Reading are doing and if they want to participate. I. Guests It's OUR parade, it's OUR birthday. People of Reading should Page 5 Steering Committee February 15, 1990 be most involved. But we may want to invite other Readings and Redding, England. J. Parade Booklet: Could be sold or distributed at no charge being paid for by merchant advertising. Copies of Sturbridge's booklet were distributed. K. Plan for Rain Cannot be postponed, it will have to go on rain or shine. L. Vendors Silly String, shaving cream, etc. ruins antique cars and uniforms. In Attleboro the Selectmen outlawed that. The feeling of Mr. LaFranchise and Mr. Briere was that Sturbridge's police chief refused to ban them when he could have done so. Their Town Counsel felt that if vendors had state licensing they could not keep them out, but they did make a shambles of the parade. Vendors also take the money out of town ...perhaps our own organizations could sell balloons, hot dogs, etc., within limits, as fund raisers for themselves. There could be special armbands or buttons for vendors who are allowed. In Pittsfield the hawkers are required to be behind the lines. You have to have someone in authority to enforce this and a willingness by the police to help with the problem. M. Suggestions from Sturbridge: Cut back on number of fire engines ...just towns that abut. Antique Car clubs love to participate at no cost. There is an antique bicycle club that will cost something called the Big Wheelers. Highly recommend the Conn. First and Second Foot Guard who wear high bear skin hats. They are rarely asked to participate and are very colorful. We will need to -sign people up way in advance and be prepared to sign contracts. You must require insurance policies for every vehicle in the parade and liability insurance for all marching units. Hired professionals are covered so you should allow only professionals (i.e. horse units) to participate (even if you step on locals toes). Their Committee went to parade after parade and literally hand picked every unit invited. They still got a few "sleepers". Armed Forces bands, according to Sturbridge, will not commit until 90 days before the parade and can back out at any time. There is no guarantee with military groups. And the Dept. of Page 6 Steering Committee February 15, 1990 Defense requires that you pay transportation and food costs. Nobody comes for nothing. Winchester went after bands that were doing it on a recruiting basis. Colleges like Bennington came down for Winchester recruiting. High School bands have to raise their own funds now adays and participating in parades in a means of fund raising for them. We will have to pay. The Minutemen might organize an Encampment. Civil War skirmishes draw a good crowd. N. Form a Committee: Dr. Blanchard will serve, Lions will help, Minutemen will help, PTO will be involved, Chamber of Commerce will be involved. Paul Sweeney will be a liaison to the Steering Committee. Anyone else is welcome. A meeting will be planned and the Sturbridge gentlemen are willing to meet with that Committee if they can be of any help. 0. Steering Committee Comments: Some members are appalled at spending that kind of money we are talking about when the historical publication will probably need at least $20,000 up front, and we are also talking about some sort of permanent monument. When the survey was done of what Reading wanted to do for the celebration you have to take into consideration that most people only know about parades and fireworks and cake. We will be planning a wide scope of activities. A parade could be put in compatible order and then edit the video to make it historically in order. Ed pointed out that another ace in the hole is that Susan Flannery's husband is in the video business. Ed told Rose Hines that a member of our committee would be available to speak to the PTO Council if she could not make it (which she did not). It was the sense of the Committee that the Clergy is absolutely adamant about not having a parade on Sunday. The fact that Sturbridge worked around the churches does not mean it would work here. Why not an ecumenical service-- perhaps a sunrise town-wide service in Laurel Hill Service. II. CALL TO ORDER Ed Palmer called the meeting to order after the discussion of the parade had concluded. Page 7 Steering Committee February 15, 1990 III. REPORTS A. Minutes of the Previous Meeting The Minutes of the January 18, 1990 meeting were accepted as presented. B. 350th, Inc. Status Report Paul Sweeney reported that Alan Foulds has been made a Director of the corporation. C. Writers Committee Everett Blodgett has about 6 people who have met twice to get this off the ground. They are inviting in Phoenix publishers who have produced some very classy histories. They are thinking of a reprint of existing history with an addendum or maybe an encyclopedia style reference book and perhaps a genealogical volume. Lynnfield's was $20,000 up front put up by eight couples who later got their money back. Ev has made it clear that he is a liaison and possibly a reference person NOT the chairman. The interest and enthusiasm is there but they already recognize that they are tight on a time schedule. Sturbridge produced a very impressive coffee table size book of 250 pages. Up front cost of $30,0000 was put up by a bank and they get the money right back. The book published at the 250th and came out 2 years later. It was sponsored by wealthy individuals in town. D. Logo Contest Susan Wheltle reported that the three judges came to a unanimous decision and selected a logo done by Judith Hunt Gabriel of Franklin Street. We hope to have the artist make a few changes in the type face and including 350th wording. Once these changes are made it will be taken to the Selectmen for approval, as agreed. Then the whole collection will be displayed in the library and an award ceremony will be held: The second and third place will be displayed as Honorable Mention. Everyone, including Miriam Barclay, is pleased. The Youth Division selection goes to Matt Fleming, an 8th grader at Coolidge Middle School. His teacher, Bill Endslow, should also be included in the Award Ceremony which the press should cover. It was moved, seconded and voted that the Youth Division Award be given a $35 award. Judith Hunt Gabriel will receive $100. E. Music Reading Symphony Orchestra really needs to know WHAT McKinley wants to do. He is currently in Germany writing a piece for Page 8 Steering Committee ~0- February 15, 1990 a town there celebrating their 30th. John Curtis, who is writing a piece for Hand Bell Choirs, wants to know whether there are Bell Choirs in Wakefield, North Reading or Lynn, who would like to participate. IV. RESEARCH A. Glass Slides Ed now has access to the collection of glass slides owned by M.F.Charles and he will make negatives of these slides with the help of Jamesway. V. NEW BUSINESS A. Surrounding Towns Ed will contact the Historical Commissions of Wakefield, North Reading and Lynn to find out whether they want to be involved or whether they are planning anything. VI. NEXT MEETING The next scheduled meeting.of the Steering Committee will be: Thursday, March 15, 1990 7:30 PM Reading Public Library A. Next Meeting: Arts and Crafts We should contact the following people: Arts Council (Fran Brown), Quannapowitt Players, Colonial Chorus, Creative Arts, Art Association, Society of Craftsmen, Beth Anderson, Reading Symphony, Bill McKinley, John Curtis. B. Upcoming Elections Alan will be coming in as president; Susan Horn will continue as secretary; will need a Vice Chairman who will become the Chairman the following year--Susan Flannery would be willing. Letterhead should not mention offices. The logo stationary should simply list our names alphabetically. V. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:53 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Susan Horn, Secretary